Explore the fairytale beauty of the Rhine Valley - its picture-book towns and villages dressed up for Christmas - aboard a beautifully appointed cruise vessel. This warm, welcoming and convivial home from home is the ideal base from which to explore this truly wonderful part of the world.

Tour Highlights And Inclusions

Three nights' accommodation based on a standard lower deck cabin (upgrade cabins available)

Full-board arrangements while on board, including afternoon tea, coffee and cake, and late-night snacks

Calls at ports as detailed in the itinerary

Luggage porterage

On-board entertainment as arranged

On-board commentary

The services of a friendly, professional crew and cruise staff

Port charges and taxes

Single cabins are available for a supplement

Ship Information

Modern, well-equipped Olympia offers all you could wish to ensure that you enjoy every moment of your Rhine cruise. With accommodation and dining facilities for just under a hundred passengers, the ship has a warm, intimate feeling about her from the minute you step on board.

Deck Plans

Itinerary

Day One

Leaving your local area very early this morning, you'll journey by coach to the Channel for your crossing to Calais. That evening you'll arrive in Boppard, the picturesque 'pearl of the Rhine', with its great Roman fort and its beautiful historic quarter. Board Olympia in time to enjoy a buffet dinner, and the warmth and welcome of your first night.

Day Two

Early risers will be awake to see Olympia begin her journey, passing fairytale castles and beneath the legendary Lorelei (where sirens were said to lure unsuspecting sailors to their end), to alight at Rudesheim.

Here the famous Drosselgasse - lined with Weinstuben (wine taverns) and restaurants - bustles with life. Spend the afternoon soaking up the atmosphere of Rudesheim's famous Christmas market, which features Europe's largest Nativity Scene, then perhaps join our late-afternoon optional excursion to an early evening wine tasting and to see the remarkable collection of musical instruments that are found in Siegfried's Musikkabinett.

Day Three

Around lunchtime, Olympia will arrive in Koblenz, at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. Step ashore to take in the atmosphere as you wander the stalls of the town's own Christmas Market, pausing to watch the skaters on the market's rink.

Image Gallery

Further Information

Coach seating arrangements

Your Tour Manager will have allocated seats for you on the main coach in advance, taking into consideration any special requests wherever possible, and will advise you where to sit as you board the coach. This will be your seat for the duration of the tour. (Seats are not allocated on any connecting services to and from the main coach.)

Joining your holiday

Your final travel documents, including the exact time and place of departure, will be sent to you approximately 10 days prior to departure, providing all payments have been made. We are unable to give exact departure times before this.

Meal arrangements

Where meals are not included, your Tour Manager will ensure there are suitable stops made for you to purchase and enjoy lunch and/or dinner each day.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Optional shore excursions

Optional excursions are available on all cruises, and we recommend that you book now to secure your place. If the number of bookings needed to operate any excursion is not reached, the excursion may be cancelled. In this case your payment will be refunded in full.

Tipping

Tipping is not compulsory, but from experience we know that many passengers like to leave gratuities for the crew. An envelope will be left in your cabin for this purpose.

Dress code

The dress code on board and ashore is casual. After 7pm, in the lounge and restaurant, shorts are not permitted, and footwear and a shirt or T-shirt must be worn.

Luggage

Where possible, non-rigid suitcases are easier to store within your cabin.

Drinking water

The tap water on board is safe to drink, but may not be to your taste due to the purification system. Bottled water can be purchased on board and locally.

Itinerary changes

On rare occasions, the Captain may need to alter the Cruise Itinerary. If this happens, the Cruise Manager will keep passengers informed.

Cabin sizes

The majority of cabins on board are 10.5m square. Single cabins are approximately 7.7m square. (These measurements include the bathroom.) Standard Promenade cabins are 15m square and most have double beds (which do not convert to sofas), but they do not have a table or stool and will by subject to engine noise during overnight and early morning sailing.

Foreign Office travel advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Christmas Markets Rhine Cruise reviews verified by reevoo

FRANCES

Dartford
Couple

General Comments

Good holiday journey seemed long winded as we travel to this end of Germany most years so do know the roads. Coach not very clean a lot of dirt if you pulled down the table to use, floor very grubby also window ledges where you put your elbow. But even with these points holiday good value.

Confirmed traveller:
20 December 2016
Published on:
30 December 2016

(10 out of 10)

ELIZABETH

ALTON
Couple

General Comments

GOOD VALUE FOR MONEY , SERVICE FAULTLESS AND FOOD EXCELLENT. WOULD RECOMMEND THIS SHORT BREAK .

Confirmed traveller:
20 December 2016
Published on:
30 December 2016

(10 out of 10)

Chris

Dartford
Family

General Comments

Lovely time nice being docked so close to markets come and go as you pleased and the food was excellent

Confirmed traveller:
20 December 2016
Published on:
30 December 2016

(10 out of 10)

ROGER

Salisbury
Couple

General Comments

Very impressed with the standard of MS Olympia & its staff. My wife & I throughly enjoyed our relaxing trip to the Rhine. The coach driver who took us to Germany was very professional & knowledgeable throughout the whole journey. We did not go on any excursions as we had visited the area in September this year.The only downside was a 2 hour wait at Salisbury coach station in the freezing cold & fog due to the fact that the coach was delayed because of bad weather.

Confirmed traveller:
20 December 2016
Published on:
29 December 2016

(8 out of 10)

Tina

Dawlish
Couple

General Comments

The journey to the ship was a nightmare. The driver was over 40 minutes late. When he arrived he decided to stop and have a cigarette before leaving which took another 20mins then we went on to stop at the service to have a 50 minutes break.He took wrong turns, tried to go through a route via a low bridge and even hit someone's house with the wing mirror and did not stop.Before we changed drivers he laughed about him spending Christmas day drinking on the beach in Spain and that it's a job and someone has to do it.Disappointingly all these errors made us late for our connection and we missed the ferry.

Confirmed traveller:
20 December 2016
Published on:
28 December 2016

(10 out of 10)

SHEILA

Sherborne
Family

General Comments

Brilliant trip really enjoyed the whole experience.

Confirmed traveller:
20 December 2016
Published on:
28 December 2016

(8 out of 10)

JACQUELINE

Charing Kent UK I

General Comments

Good all round trip but your manager took up too much time with his history of Germany